Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy-Chapter 664: Propaganda video (3)
In the capital of Soladin, Arthur hurried his steps when he heard that Karia called for him, despite being busy assisting Cecil with the succession tasks for the throne.
The mocking remarks of the statue, the nagging from the ancestors, and the never-ending pile of work—this was a chance to escape, even if just for a moment! He couldn’t afford to miss it!
Passing through the knights who were assisting with the restoration efforts, Arthur arrived at the back alley, stopping when he saw men praying around a statue.
If I remember correctly, those should be Karia’s subordinates. But why are they doing this?
What’s up with that statue?
Hmm? That’s a statue of Lucy Alrn, isn’t it?
It’s very intricate.
It must have been made by the Art Church.
I can tell that it’s a decent piece of art, but I don’t understand why these tough-looking men are praying in tears.
If someone doesn’t know much about Lucy Alrn, I can understand it, but these guys must have been affected by her misdeeds at least once.
“Prince 3rd, you’ve come quickly.”
“Karia, this is going too far.”
“Ah, that? I didn’t tell them to do it.”
“Then were they trying to mock me?”
“No, they’re doing this of their own volition. Do you think such earnestness would come out in a performance?”
Arthur paused, staring at the man sobbing loudly. Am I dreaming? Have I collapsed from exhaustion and am now having a nightmare?
“It’s not a dream.”
“...I would have preferred it if it were a dream.”
“Follow me. I’ll explain why this is happening.”
As Arthur followed Karia, he noticed people praying here and there.
At this point, it seemed like something related to the mind had attacked the capital.
Ah, damn it. The palace reconstruction isn’t even finished yet, and now some idiot is messing around?
“Heheh, heh... Heheheh.”
When Arthur met Lina, who was drooling and clutching a crystal orb, he realized the situation was far more serious than he had imagined.
Lucy Alrn may have seemed like trash when she was next to me, but Lina, on her own, was quite a powerful individual. Being the master of the forest is no small feat.
For something related to the mind, it seemed almost too much for someone like her to handle.
“Prince 3rd, I understand your concerns, but that’s not what’s going on.”
“It’s not? Then why is Lina in such a state? Isn’t she reduced to something lower than an animal?”
“She often gets like this, doesn’t she?”
“That’s when Lucy Alrn is involved... Could it be?”
“That’s what I wanted to tell you.”
The crystal orb, which was made to announce the existence of the God’s Apostle to the world, seemed, outwardly, like nothing special.
But given the scene he had just witnessed, Arthur knew it couldn’t be dismissed lightly.
“There’s no brainwashing magic or anything like that.”
“You’ve already deactivated it?”
“No, I’m telling you, it’s not brainwashing. It’s just a video that that pervert, Prete, made with all his soul.”
“A simple video made people like this?”
Isn’t that even more terrifying than brainwashing?
Arthur, caught between curiosity and fear, finally chose to indulge his curiosity.
“Is it okay if I watch it?”
“What you’re holding now is fine.”
“Is there something else?”
“It just turned out this way.”
Blinking in confusion, he chuckled and placed his hand on the crystal orb.
In that instant, his vision suddenly went dark.
It was the magic of the crystal orb. What’s it trying to do?
Before long, Arthur’s sight returned. However, what was imprinted in his eyes wasn’t the view of the back alley.
He was standing in the middle of the church he had once seen—the very one of the God’s Church.
Startled by the sudden change in scenery, Arthur looked around, and as he did, he felt a warm divine presence in front of him.
The girl praying before the idol was someone Arthur knew all too well, but he couldn’t be sure.
The Lucy Alrn he knew, praying in silence, didn’t look like the bratty girl he once knew.
O God.
Arthur, marveling at the divine light fluttering inside the church, turned his head and froze as he faced Lucy.
He never imagined he would think like this, and even now, it felt hard to believe. But, at the very least, he had to admit it.
Damn. She’s disgustingly beautiful. Lucy Alrn!
Afterward, Arthur absorbed all the images within the video.
The priests appearing wherever Lucy Alrn passed by.
The knights accompanying her.
The choir singing praises.
The cardinals bowing respectfully.
The saint, stepping aside with a bright smile as the fog outside the church parted.
And, at the moment Lucy Alrn stepped forward, the fog lifted, revealing the shining sun in the blue sky.
The many battles the God’s Apostle had faced until now.
After seeing it all and returning to reality, Arthur understood why the people outside were acting the way they were.
If anyone watched this video, they would inevitably praise the God’s Apostle.
Even I, who knew Lucy Alrn well and had gone through many trials with her, felt awe.
What about those who had only seen her from a distance, or those who had only heard rumors about her?
This video wasn’t just about announcing the God’s Apostle.
It was a tool to turn Lucy Alrn into a hero.
“Impressive, isn’t it?”
“I won’t deny that. But I can’t believe Lucy Alrn made something like this. She’s the kind of person who doesn’t like attention.”
“She wasn’t used to it. Who doesn’t like being praised?”
Arthur couldn’t answer Karia when she remarked that it was time for Lucy to stop being hated.
She had been hated for a long, long time.
Yet, she was the same Lucy who had risked her life for others.
Now that she wanted to be repaid, who could scold her for it?
“And, actually, the employer tried desperately to stop it. He was just ignored.”
“...Is it possible for his opinion to be ignored?”
“Many people who care about the employer, besides the saint and Lady Patran, and the personal maid, sincerely asked, so yes.”
“That guy. He’s secretly weak toward those close to him.”
“Anyway, he’s a cute guy.”
“Even when teasing Karia?”
“I’ll make an exception for that. I really want to hit him.”
After this day, Lucy’s video spread much faster than Erginus or Prete had expected.
The emotional impact of the video itself was significant, but the way those who had seen it strongly recommended it to others had a great influence.
One shouldn’t be the only one to understand the Apostle’s efforts. Everyone should see this video and feel gratitude!
With this one-minded resolve, people worked hard, and in two days, Lucy’s goal was achieved.
Of course, even though Lucy’s goal had been fulfilled, the people didn’t stop.
Waking up and gently pulling back the curtains, Arthur saw people praying on their knees.
From early morning, before the sun had properly risen, there was a sense of devotion among those who prayed with him.
What was surprising was that each day, the number of people praying increased.
At first, only those staying at the holy ground visited, but after the video was released, people from nearby areas began to come, and now even people from distant places had started visiting.
Something was wrong.
My initial goal was simply to persuade the followers beneath the other apostles. With their cooperation, we could attack all locations at once.
But what is this? They’re starting to treat me like a living god, like some cult leader!
Why are they praying to me! They should be praying to that useless God! I’m just his agent!
Ah! The residents of this fantasy world are so naive!
Why do they believe in a video like that!
Of course, it should be normal to suspect manipulation and agitation, right!?
Why the hell do they believe it so blindly! You idiots!
<Why don’t you scold your close people instead? Even I couldn’t help but praise the video. How could they not believe it?>
‘That’s because you’re an old man, Grandpa!’
<Old... Hmm. My companions would have had similar reactions after watching the video.>
Ah, seriously. What if I start getting carried away?
I heard recently that part of the island where the warrior and Garad were staying collapsed, and the shard of the evil god was stolen, and I clicked my tongue, grumbling under my breath.
Haah. I didn’t think I’d miss the modern society where people would immediately suspect manipulation whenever a video was shown!
If I had been in that place, none of this would have happened!
<By the way, in some regions, you and the God are now considered one and the same.>
‘...Really?’
<That’s what Erginus said, so it must be true.>
When an apostle becomes this popular, the gods usually get jealous and punish them. I wonder what will happen with our useless God.
Hmm. I think I can rest easy on this part. Our useless God will probably just indulge in it and be satisfied.
<Anyway, hasn’t everything turned out the way you wanted it to?>
‘My goal has been more than exceeded, and now I feel like my disguise is about to tear apart.’
The problem isn’t just the pressure of their expectations. The unnaturally rapid spread of faith is also an issue.
Since I’m the Apostle of the God, the faith directed at me is almost the same as faith toward the God.
Thanks to that, the influence of the God has been growing so rapidly, it’s incomparable to the time when the Pope was recklessly using Agras’s powers.
Considering that this madness will only grow over time, it seems that the Pope’s plans will be realized soon.
At least the good thing is that they are preparing for it.
‘Grandfather, just asking, but after everything is over and my achievements are revealed, what do you think will happen?’
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<You’ll probably be revered as a sage, wouldn’t you?>
...
Maybe I shouldn’t save the world after all.
